Past Events

The first Bridgebuilder Award went to Debra DePalma, a community activist who has been involved in numerous civic and religious communities. She was past Chairperson of the Northbrook Community Relations Commission and is now on the Board of Open Communities.Debbie De Palma is a community organizer in suburban Chicago who volunteers with groups that promote respect, civil rights and social justice for all. She has a special interest in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities.

In 2005, Gail Schechter, Executive Director of Open Communities (formerly the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs of Chicago) received the Bridgebuilder Award. Gail is a leader in fair and affordable housing advocacy, discrimination investigation, tenant and community organizing, public school funding reform and public policy.

In 2006, our recipient was Rabbi Robert Marx who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in Alabama, Chicago and many of Chicago’s northern suburbs. He served as the first president of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs as well as the Inter-Religious Council on Urban Affairs. Rabbi Marx was also a co-founder of the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race.

In 2007, we honored three teachers who went the extra mile to expose their students to people from other countries, cultures and faith traditions. The awardees were Motria Melnyk of Meadowbrook Elementary School; Jerome Hoynes of Glenbrook North High School; Carol Hillsberg, Jean Steinberg and Becky Recor of Wood Oaks Middle School.